Sound absorbing covering



March 14, 1939.

P. A. SCHILLING souun ABSORBING COVERING Filed Dec. 12, 1956 I 1 am A.Schil1in g Fig.5

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOUND ABSORBING COVERING Application December 12, 1936, Serial No. 115,635

4 Claims.

My invention relates to sound absorbing media and particularly to a medium adapted to be used as a covering for walls and ceilings of rooms and similar enclosures.

An object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering by means of which the energy produced by sounds in a room, chamber or enclosure may be absorbed and dissipated to avoid echos, reverberations and other sound disturbances caused by reflection of the sound waves from the walls and ceiling of the same or otherwise.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering by means of which the transmission of sound through a wall or ceiling may be reduced.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering which will be relatively inexpensive.

An object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering in which the energy is dissipated largely through friction caused by the movement of air along the surfaces of a number of air cells.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering having a plurality of elongated air cells arranged substantially parallel to the surface to which the covering is to be applied.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the sound absorbing covering with a backing and a corrugated facing of some vibratile material attached thereto in a manner to provide a plurality of spaced parallel air cells therebetween.

An object of the invention resides in providing a sound absorbing covering constructed in the form of a number of juxtaposedelongated panels and in providing supports for the panels at their edges, leaving the panels free therebetween.

A still further object of the invention resides in spacing the covering from the surface to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a simple and inexpensive construction for supporting the sound absorbing covering.

Other objects of the invention reside in. the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/ or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of a portion of a ceiling illustrating the application of an embodiment of my invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on 55 line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the method of applying the covering to the supporting strips therefor.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l and drawn to a larger scale. I

For the purpose of illustrating the application of my invention, I have shown a portion of a room in a building A which embodies a ceiling l0 and walls II and I2 adjoining the same. The installation of the invention in the room being obvious the entire room. has not been shown and only somuch of the ceiling and wall thereof as are necessary to disclose the method of applying the covering thereto are illustrated.

My invention may be installed on both the walls and ceilings of rooms, chambers or other enclosures in which sound absorbtion is desired or the same may be used on either the walls or ceilings alone. In the description of the invention it is to be understood that the use of either of the words ceiling or walls in the specification and claims implies the use of the invention with either or both.

The invention proper consists of a covering indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral B which consists of elongated panels of a sound absorbing material forming the principal feature of the invention. A number of these panels have been illustrated and are designated by the reference numerals. I311, I32), [30, etc. These panels are supported by means of supporting strips 15, Ilia, I 6b, etc., which are situated at the lateral edges of the same. Inasmuch as the panels and supporting strips are identical only the panel I30 and the supporting strips l5 and l6b will be described in detail.

The supporting strip 1% may be constructed of wood, metal, or any other suitable material and when constructed of wood is formed with a body portion 2| having flanges 22 and 23 issuing outwardly therefrom. The lowermost portion of the strip may be rounded as indicated at 24 to embellish the same or the same may be constructed with any other type of embellishment. By means of the two flanges 22 and 23, two grooves 25 and 26 are formed between said flanges, the body portion 2! and the under surface 21' of the ceiling In. The strip [5 is similar to the strips lBa, etc. except that one of the flanges. of the same has been omitted, adapting the strip for application along a wall of the room. The strips l5 and [6a, etc., may be attached to the ceiling by means of nails 28 which pass through the body of the supporting strip and into the joists or other supporting structure of the ceiling.

The panel I3c consists of a back 3| and a facing 32 applied thereto. The back 3| is preferably constructed of paper and the facing 32 may be likewise constructed of paper. The facing 32 is corrugated, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to provide a series of corrugations 33, which are glued to the back 3| at their ridges. These corrugations form in conjunction with the backing 3| a number of air cells 34 which extend throughout the extent of the panel. The panel is preferably constructed so that the corrugations 33 extend transversely of the same and so that the ends of the air cells 34 become concealed within the grooves 25 and 26 of the supporting strips. The facing 32 is constructed of a material such that the Walls 35 of the corrugations 33 thereof may vibrate when sound waves strike the same so as to set into vibration the air within the air cells 34.

The manner of applying or installing the invention is as follows: The strips l5, l6a, etc., are attached to the wall or ceiling or both, as desired, in spaced relation, so that the distances between the grooves 25 and 26 of the same are slightly greater than the widths of the panels. The strips I5 are placed in the corners of the room and in the particular installation illustrated, adjacent wall l2. One end of each of said sup porting strips is cut on a bias as designated at 3B in Figs. 3 and 4 and terminates short of the adjacent wall II. This forms a sloping runway which permits of inserting the panels into the grooves 25 and 26 after the supporting strips have been installed. The panels are thus all applied and received within the respective grooves and after the same are in proper position short supporting strips 31 are utilized which are likewise cut with beveled edges as designated at 38 and 39, which are nailed in position and close the gaps formed at the ends of the strips [5, l6 etc. The beveled edges 39 permit of swinging the strips 31 into closing position without unloosening the strips I5, l6, etc. After the panels are in position and the gaps at the ends of the strips are closed the panels rest on the flanges 22 and 23 of said strips and become separated from the undersurface 21 of the ceiling ill by means of a space 39.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the walls 35 of the corrugations 33 of the facing 32 are set in vibration by means of the energy from sound waves within the room, chamber or enclosure in which the covering is used, these walls set up a vibration in the air within the air columns 34. Such vibration of air causes the air to travel along the air passageways formed in said air cells and the energy so transmitted to the air is dissipated in friction between the air and the walls of the said air cells. For this reason any material is desirable which produces a relatively great amount of friction between the air and the surface thereof when the air is set into vibration. It will thus be readily comprehended that the energy transmitted to the covering is dissipated in heat and the undesirable echos, reverberations and other results of reflection of sound waves from the walls of a room and other objects therein are absorbed.

I have found that a paper product serves the purpose of the present invention and particularly a paper having a relatively rough uncalendered surface and one of such compactness and stiffness that the same can be set into vibration when sound waves impinge thereon.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The wall covering can be constructed from paper products and at an extremely low cost. The wall covering is readily applied to the surface on which it is to be used and when properly applied assists in reducing noises in rooms and at the same time assists in reducing the transmission of sounds through walls and ceilings. My invention when applied to a room gives the room an attractive appearance. With the type of supporting structure shown the covering can be quickly and easily removed and replaced whenever the occasion requires it.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the walls and ceiling, of a room, a number of spaced supporting strips attached to the ceiling and forming elongated facing recesses therein, certain of said supporting strips falling short of one of the walls to leave the recesses formed thereby open at one end, flexible elongated sound absorbing sheets adapted to be inserted endwise in to the recesses from the open ends thereof and means for supporting the ends of the sound absorbing sheets outwardly of said supporting strips.

2. In combination with the walls and ceiling, of a room, a number of spaced supporting strips attached to the ceiling and forming elongated facing recesses therein, certain of said supporting strips falling short of one of the walls to leave the recesses formed thereby open at one end, flexible elongated sound absorbing sheets adapted to be inserted endwise in to the recesses from the open ends thereof, said strips being formed with sloping ends to provide runways for directing the sheets into said recesses and means for supporting the ends of the sound absorbing sheets outwardly of said supporting strips.

3. In combination with the walls and ceiling, of a room, a number of spaced supporting strips attached to the ceiling and forming elongated facing recesses therein, certain of said supporting strips falling short of one of the walls to leave the recesses formed thereby open at one end, flexible elongated sound absorbing sheets adapted to be inserted endwise in to the recesses from the open ends thereof, said strips being formed with sloping ends to provide runways for directing the sheets into said recesses and other supporting strips lying in continuation of said first named supporting strips and having beveled ends adapted to rest upon said runways of said first named strips.

4. In combination with a wall or ceiling, a covering therefor comprising a backing consisting of an elongated strip of paper disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto, a sheet of corrugated paper overlying said backing and secured thereto to form. in conjunction there with a plurality of elongated air cells extending in a direction substantially parallel to said backing and transversely of the strip, and supporting strips for supporting said strip longitudinally at the ends of the air cells to conceal the open ends thereof.

PAUL A. SCHILLING. 

